Comments on: Google Navigation: Why Only In Certain Countries?

By: Jay Benshaw

Jay Benshaw — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 20:42:26 +0000

Microsoft wasn’t sued because Internet Explorer included – all operating systems need SOME browser to start with.

It was in trouble because Internet Explorer could not be removed or replaced from the system. Even the “Add/Remove Programs” thing just took the icon off the desktop.

By: Lee Morrow

Lee Morrow — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 16:27:11 +0000

Google’s turn by turn nav is supported by their own maps which they created when they street viewed the USA, only the center of major cities in Europe have been street viewed so far so it may take a while for them to finish their european map making.
This is probably the reason for it not launching in Europe yet.

By: Tam

Tam — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 13:22:47 +0000

Agree with you janus !

@AndroidClub NL
Where do you get the number of 2/3 of EU population doesn’t want an EU government ?? It’s not ’cause you don’t like it that you assume “everobody” is like you !

@Rob “Motorola Sholes, Droid, Milestone (am I forgetting one?)”
You forget “Tao” ;)

By: janus

janus — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 11:10:49 +0000

@AndroidClub NL
what is this crap about EU-Nazis are you nuts???
The EU with its lawsuit are only there to protect small businesses.

By: mvl

mvl — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 01:50:38 +0000

Google pulled government sourced maps for the US, essentially for free.

In much Europe, the government doesn’t allow free use of its maps, so Google would have to pay for it, and then couldn’t give a free app when they do.

The best maps in Europe are by Teleatlas, and Google’s Teleatlas license prohibits turn-by-turn since Teleatlas is owned by Tomtom.

By: a

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 23:20:21 +0000

Google navigation requires constant internet connection and while with unlimited data plans this is not a problem except during roaming. US are a big country while in Europe we have many separate countries with different carriers and data on roaming is not cheap at all

By: Morten

Morten — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 22:40:00 +0000

This is dumb.

Android is not in an monopoly situation. If it were, it wouldn’t matter since only “with Google” devices come with Google Navigate.

And as mentioned. Google has said it is a US beta only, implying that it will come to Europe.

By: CompactDstrxion

CompactDstrxion — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 22:23:49 +0000

Google wouldn’t have to worry about antitrust anyway. Android is not a monopoly operating system. Windows is.

By: KBlack

KBlack — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 21:10:15 +0000

Heh. I came back here because I remembered the bit about google owning the US maps but having deals with other companies for the rest of the world. But looks like other people remembered before me :P

By: TSellers

TSellers — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 20:50:21 +0000

Antitrust was not a factor at all. As others have said, its only available in the US because Google doesn’t have to license US maps as it owns them. The rest of the world still requires licensing from third parties to create a complete map. Besides, having a monopoly isn’t illegal. Its abusing that monopoly with anticompetitive behavior that becomes an issue. Even if Google Navigation did completely swallow the nav market, it would be a tough sell to argue that giving your product away for free is anticompetitive.
Meaningless an uninformed speculation.

By: Héctor

Héctor — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 20:48:19 +0000

What C_H said.

By: Alex Whiteside

Alex Whiteside — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 20:04:44 +0000

Maybe it’s because Google Nav’s maps data currently only covers the US, and no European maps exist regardless of which regulatory regime you operate in. US Google Nav users will not get European maps either, which is inconsistent with the antitrust hypothesis.

By: AndrewKam

AndrewKam — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 19:45:35 +0000

I’m inclined to agree with C_H. You have to remember that Google Nav relies on Google-owned map data and information sourced from US transit agencies. Meanwhile in the Europe, they are still using TeleAtlas-sourced maps. That seems to be far more likely to be a problem than any antitrust concerns.

By: Brian

Brian — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 19:42:39 +0000

I think it’s a smart move by Google (if I understand it right) to allow the manufacturer to determine what does and doesn’t go on the phones in terms of apps. Google provides the base OS and they can put whatever Google extras on there as they want. Google could be sued for putting Google Navigation on the phone but the suit will quickly fall apart since the carrier not Google put the app there.
If Google makes the apps available on the Market and allows the carriers to preload the ones they choose on the phone they can provide whatever goodies they want and avoid the whole MS-style anti-trust mess because they aren’t shoving anything down anyone’s throats. It’s a good business plan.

By: AndroidClub NL

AndroidClub NL — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 19:41:42 +0000

If Google just offer their navigation through the Android Market and allow other manufacturers to do so as well (there already are some), then there will no EU nazi who can do anything about it.
By the way, for all you folks outside the EU: at least twothird of the EU population doesn’t want the EU government and doesn’t want an (unelected) EU president, but still it happens, that’s why I used that ‘big word’.